Huge answer to prayer

We have been praying to the Lord to find us a place to live when we go home and start working and fundraising. We needed it to be very cheap because we need to raise around 40 some thousand dollars within 8 months (which will cover all our expenses for the next 2 years, including all 4 of our plane tickets to and from Mexico). We had gotten an email from a childhood friend of Ross's before we even moved to Bethany to start school. We found out that him and his family lived in the city and that they would like to visit with us sometime. Ironically we ended up running into them at a International church we have been volunteering at in the cities. They had been gone to India for three months doing missions work as a family, and that is why we haven't really been able to met up with them. We were very excited to have finally meet with them. Anyway they found out that we had been praying to find a place to live back at home. He called us yesterday and said that "in order to help support us he wanted to give us a free apartment for the time that we were home fundraising." It is in Minot and also he offered Ross some contracting construction work on some of his apartment. Also he was going to help Ross find work with one of the construction companies he knows of there. This place is one of the nicest places he owns in Minot. The best perk about it is that there is a elementary school very close to it. Alyssa is going to be starting Kindergarten this year and Zoe preschool. God thinks of everything. He once again completely answered or prayers even better than we could have imagined. This is now the second place God has given us to live for free since we started this journey He has place us on. I know that God takes care of His people, but I also know that God tests His people. He has definitely been doing both of that in our lives. When we take a step back and tell God that He is the one in control of our lives He honors us in that. He tells us that we are His dear children and He will take care of us if we would only allow Him too. Some times we think we know what is best for us and completely push God out of the picture. Wrong choice. I am sad that Alyssa won't be able to go to school in Trenton with Mrs. Nelson but I know that the Lord has good things also for us in Minot during this time. If anyone knows of a good preschool in Minot please let me know. We need to get Zoe into a childcare/preschool. Our cell number is 701-570-3253. We are able to move into this apartment Sept. 1st. This gives us about one week back in Williston before Alyssa starts school on the 23rd of August. We will have to find someplace to stay till then. I am excited to see what the Lord has planned for that! I just wanted to remind everyone to keep praying for the families that lost their loved ones to the bridge that collapsed in Minneapolis. Also for the Korean missionaries that have been captured and killed in the middle east. Their families are going to need prayer from their brothers and sister in the Lord from the West to help get them through this hard time. We need to honor these fallen brothers and sisters. Mandy

A fun day with friends

I also wanted to mention the wonderful time that we had with a very dear friend of mine Vickie Arneson and her family.They came and spent the day with us. We were able to go the the Como Zoo and Como town with them. We were able to watch a sea lion show and see many fun animals. The gorilla was bye far the coolest. The girls are still talking about being able to play with Dillon and Austin also being able to go on the rides. Thanks you Vickie and Terry for the wonderful day you truly blessed us with your generosity. It will forever be remembered. Thanks you Lord for friends. We will be coming home soon. We have two weeks left of this part of school. We will be coming home to work and fund raise for the next 9 months. I am very excited for Alyssa to be able to go to school with one of the teachers that truly blessed my life. Michelle Nelson she is such a great person. I love to be able to see someone that will pour out her heart in all that she does. Also too the people that she meets. I am honored that the Lord set it up this way that my daughter will be able to also have Michelle as her teacher. I know that it will be a great year. We will be looking for a place to live during these nine months. Please pray that we would be able to find a cheap place to live and also for me to find a job that would work around the schooling of the girls. I am excited to see everyone and catch up. I am very excited to see my friend Trisha Houles little twins. I have not seen them since I have been gone. What a blessing! I am sure they are beautiful and I will very much enjoy holding them. See you soon I must now go to lunch and feed my belly. Mandy

It is a sad time in our town now

It is a sad time in Minneapolis right now. I first off want to ask you to take second and pray for the families that have been lost and the people that are still missing...... In the mist of all this thought we were able to see how the Lord does take care of His children once again. One of our class mates was suppose to be in that area at that time. She would have been handing to help with her church that was downtown area but she decided yesterday afternoon that she was not going to go that day. The Lord protected her. Thank you Lord. We are going to be trying to go downtown to just sit and talk with people to that need someone to listen to them. If at that time the Lord quickens their heart we will share His good word but we want to be there first off to just love them in their time of hurt. He will make His presence know during this time. He is the great comforter. Please be praying for the driving situations this is one of the busiest roads for alot of people. We traveled this road often. When I was walking home from Youth Group last night before I heard about what happened outside had such a eerie feeling. It was like a brownish yellow color outside. I can't imagine how it was and still is for the people that are around the site. I pray that during this time that the Christians would be willing to open their hearts and arms for their fellow neighbors. In Mathew 22:37 Jesus tells us to love Him first and then love our neighbors as ourselves(shortened version :) ) We are not suppose to wait for something like this to happen before we do this. This should be in our everyday life. Thanks for all the people that called to make sure we were ok. We appreciate you. We feel very loved!